Scoring came early and often in the Granger Lions and Bartlett Bulldogs baseball game this past Friday, April 22. The Lions came out the victors over their rival, 8-6.
The Bulldogs came out swinging in the game and grabbed an early 3-0 lead over the home Lions.
The Bulldogs held the 3-0 lead until Granger blew up in the bottom of the third inning for five runs. Nate Tucker led off with a double, and Isaac Lizardo bunted and reached on an error by the Bulldogs pitcher. On the same play, Tucker swiped third base. Lizardo took second base before Cantwell walked to load the bases full of Lions. Trey Burton then singled to right field to score Lizardo and Tucker, which cut the Bulldog lead to 3-2.
After Tripp Wilkie was hit by a pitch, Michael Selucky reached on an infield single to drive home Cantwell and tie the game 3-3. Burton and Wilkie crossed home when Thomas Hall doubled to right field to give the Lions the 5-3 lead. Selucky was taken down at home for the inning’s final out.
With four walks in the Bulldog half of the fourth inning, Bartlett cut the Granger lead to 5-4.
In the Granger half of the fifth inning, the Lions added three more runs to double their lead 8-4. Cantwell led off and reached base after being hit by a pitch. A balk by the Bartlett pitcher advanced Cantwell to second base. Johnny Ryder then singled to center field and advanced Cantwell to third base. Burton then walked to again load the bases for Granger. A walk to Wilkie drove home the Lions’ sixth run. Ryder then scored after tagging up via a Selucky sacrifice fly to bring the Lions’ lead to 7-4. Pinch runner Brooks Terry scored Granger’s final run of the inning.
Despite the Lions surrendering two runs in the top of the sixth inning, Granger held on for the 8-6 victory.
Burton and Wilkie split time on the mound collectively striking out 10 batters. Already out of the playoff picture, the Lions played their final game of the season on Tuesday, April 26, at Bartlett.
